A 21-year-old Somali is recovering in a provincial hospital after surviving a murder attempt at his shop at Kwanobuhle on Monday, Eastern Cape police said.

"It is alleged that two Somalis were busy in the shop at about 8am.

"One of them exited and three unknown men entered. One of them produced a firearm and shot Mohammed Hassin," said police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu.

The men took nothing from the shop and fled.

Hassin was taken from Kwanobuhle to the Eastern Cape provincial hospital in Uitenhage where he was stabilised.

A case of attempted murder was being investigated. - Sapa